Pressing "Publish" Felt Like Jumping Off a Roof

I thought the hardest part of EveryCity Whispers would be writing the script. Or editing the tape. Or building the website.

It wasn’t.

The hardest part was pressing “publish.”

I’ve been working on EveryCity for months—thinking about the idea, shaping the voice, writing and rewriting, sometimes just pacing around Tokyo wondering if this thing would ever feel ready. And then one day, it was. Or close enough.

And that’s when the panic set in.

The Fear That Shows Up

Suddenly, all the usual suspects showed up in my head:

• Who do you think you are to make this?

• It’s not finished—it’s just pretending to be.

• No one will listen.

• Or worse—people will listen and not care.

I wasn’t afraid of failure exactly. I was afraid of exposure. That people would hear not just my words, but my inner world. My rhythms. My voice. My choices.

It felt personal in a way nothing I’ve ever created has.

So Why Publish Anyway?

Because cities whisper. I’ve spent years listening.

And I think there’s something there—something worth sharing, even if it’s imperfect.

Also: no one’s going to hear the stories stuck in my head. They have to live somewhere real. Somewhere outside of me.

What Happened After

I hit publish. My heart pounded. I told a few close friends. Then I closed my laptop and went for a walk.

When I came back, a few people had listened.

One person texted me that the sushi chef story made them tear up.

Someone else said the episode reminded them of living in Seoul.

It wasn’t a viral launch. It wasn’t polished to perfection. But it was true. And it was out in the world.

Why I’m Sharing This

Because maybe you’ve got something half-finished in a folder somewhere.

Maybe you’re stuck at the edge of the rooftop, afraid to jump. (Umm, don't actually jump--bad analogy 😅)

This post is just a quiet nudge.

The fear is real. But so is the reward.

Put your voice into the world—even if it shakes. Especially if it shakes.

More soon,

– Steven